Nancy m



' (No Model.)

' M. FITCH.

KILN FOR FIRING POTTERY, &c.

No. 281,625. Patented'Ju1y-17,-1883.

e a d a, I a I INVENTOR 7. BY ll/MAM ATTORNETYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' NANCY FITCH, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO STEARNS FITCH,

- OF SAME PLACE.

KlLN FOR FIRING POTTERY, 86C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,625, dated July 1'7, 1883.

Application filed January 6, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NANCY M. FITCH, a resident of Auburn, county of Cayuga, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Portable Kilns for Firing Pottery, 8pc. of which the following is a clear, full, and ex act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a perspective, Fig. 2 a vertical section, and Fig. 8 a detail in plan, of a kiln constructed in accordance with my invention.

Heretofore portable furnaces or kilns have been constructed for the use of dentists, j ewelers, assayers, and for firing pottery, and the latter have comprised a removable pot, pan, or

receptacle in which the pottery is placed to be fired; and I do not claim such as of my invention, the main objects of which are to so construct a pottery-kiln as to render it capable of being readily set up for use and taken down for condensed storage or transportation, and to permit full oversight of any ware therein during the process of burning, as hereinafter described, the novel features of which construction are specifically set forth in the claims.

A represents a foundation or base consisting of a single casting comprising an annular groove formed by flanges b b on its upper surface, central arms, a, and lugs ff. In addition to these integral elements of the base, I provide suitable legs, which are preferably removable, and a latch, f, pivotally secured to the base, so as to be projected to form an additional lug for the support of a grate, g, the perforations g of which are in this instance disposed annularly, but which may eX- tend over its entire surface, if desired. The wall of the kiln comprises two or more tiers of segmental fire-bricks, G G, the lower tier, 0, resting in the groove of the base, and set to form air inlets or spaces 0, for a purpose hereinafter stated. The segmental bricks of the remaining tiers, C, are set against each other, and are retained in close contact end to end and upon each lower tier by bands or hoops e, each of which is held in position by straps e, bent to enter the joint between the tiers, as shown.

(N0 model.)

B represents the ware receptacle, which is of a diameter that when in position for use leaves an annular fire-space only, as the receptacle rests or stands upon the arms a of the base. In this instance the receptacle is divided into two chambers by a perforated shelf, Z, supported upon aflange, Z, formed or fastened on the inner wall. A vent and sight-tube, K, is provided, which projects through an aperture, c, in one of the bricks O, and a similar tube, 1', is secured in the cover L of the receptacle.

This being the construction, the operation is as follows: To start a fire in the kiln after it is set up, as described, charcoal is ignited and swung to and fro in the open air in the perforated dish m, and when burning Sllfl'lciently is put into the annular fire-space, the receptacle B, with the decorated ware therein,

being in position in the kiln and covered, as

shown. Goal or other fuel is now supplied, and the air enters the apertures g and spaces 0 and supports combustion, and the desired heat is secured, which, being not confined to the bottom of the receptacle, has a gradual effect upon the ware within the receptacle, so that it is uniformly absorbed thereby rather than forced therein by confinementto the bottom only. The main body of incandescent fuel is more broadly disposed, and the apertures and spaces for the air-supply are correspondingly diffused or arranged, so that the heat is not only intense, but uniform. Inspection of the effect of the heat is readily secured in either chamber by the pipes K t, and at the proper time the latch f is turned and the grate 9 falls, and with it the body of burning fuel, and the ware and receptacle are allowed to cool gradually, as usual in the art.

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim istion of a base comprising in a single casting 5. The combination of the base A, having the flanges b I), the arms a, and lugs f, with a arms a and grate g, the spaced bricks O, and I 5 grate g and latch f, substantially as specified. the close bricks 0, one of which is apertured, as 3. The combination of the base A, having at a, with the ware-receptacle B, resting upon 5 the spider or arms a, the grate g, the bricks G, the base, and provided with the sight-tubes K set to form spaces 0, and the receptacle B, art, shelf 1, and cover L, substantially as shown ranged or resting upon the arms a, substanand described; tially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the base A, having NANCY M. FITCH. i 10 arms (I, the grate g, the ware-receptacle B,

having the sight-tube K and cover L, and the Witnesses: band 0, having straps c, substantiallyas shown HORACE T. 000K, and described. CHARLES DELANEY. 

